Pre-Recorded Video Submissions for LAMDA Exams

29 May 2026

From August 2026, we’re introducing a new process for our Remote Online Assessment (ROA) examinations, which changes the way pre-recorded videos are filmed and submitted.

These changes are designed to make the process simpler to film and submit. For support booking, filming or submitting ROAs, please reach out via the customer portal.

Included Exams

This new process only relates to ROA self-tapes which are pre-recorded. All submissions and pieces must be filmed in one continuous take.

All ROA Group exams must consist of between 3-10 learners.

Exam Format
Musical Theatre Solo
Musical Theatre Duologue
PCertLAM (Only applicable if the learner has opted to include a musical theatre piece in their repertoire. The full recital must be filmed in one take.)
Musical Theatre Group
Acting Group
Devising Drama Group (Entry & Grades 1-5 only)
Choral-Speaking Group
Recital Group
Storytelling for Performance Group

Exam Format
Musical Theatre Solo
Musical Theatre Duologue
PCertLAM (Only applicable if the learner has opted to include a musical theatre piece in their repertoire. The full recital must be filmed in one take.)
Musical Theatre Group
Acting Group
Devising Drama Group (Entry & Grades 1-5 only)
Choral-Speaking Group
Recital Group
Storytelling for Performance Group

Deadlines

For recording:

  • Exam tapes must be recorded 2-4 weeks before the exam date.
  • For example, if a learner’s exam session is on Saturday 18 April, the tape must be recorded between Saturday 21 March and Saturday 4 April. The tape must then be submitted 2 weeks before the exam session.
  • 2026-27 dates for Public Centre ROA exams in the UK and internationally are now available to view. Each exam date also references a self-tape submission deadline.
  • LAMDA will carry out routine sampling to verify that the file properties confirm the recording was made during the eligible period. If a recording is found to fall outside the permitted timeframe, the exam may be invalidated.

For submissions:

  • 2 weeks before the exam date, a LAMDA scheduler will be in touch with a SharePoint link for you to upload the video file.
  • The self-tape must be uploaded within 48 hours of the link being shared with you. 
  • SharePoint links will only be sent on weekdays (Monday – Friday).
  • LAMDA Exams will then check the video submissions meet our quality and compliance checks. If the video does not meet the requirements, a scheduler will be in touch to inform you and request it be re-recorded for the exam.

Important: this quality check does not involve a review of adherence to examination regulations or grade specifications. It is only to check whether the learner(s) can be seen and heard adequately in order to be assessed by the Examiner. Confirmation that the self-tape(s) have passed the quality check is not confirmation that examination regulations and requirements have been met.

Please ensure you have checked the relevant examination regulations and grade specifications prior to submitting your self-tapes. Failure to do so may result in invalidation of the exam after assessment.

  • Prior to the live element of the exam (and after the recording has taken place), learners may look back on their recording to remind themselves of the performance. This is not mandatory. We recommend that teachers refer to the syllabus for any questions in relation to a learner’s performance that may appear in the exam.

Video Requirements

For Group, Solo and Duologue exams:

The learner (including any read-ins) must be visible from head to toe throughout the entire video. Any drink breaks, costume or prop changes should happen on camera (as would be the case during an in-person exam). The camera should remain stationary during the whole performance.

Note: if a learner moves to the floor or stands on furniture during the performance, they must remain completely in-frame. We recommend a teacher checks this on camera before recording the performance.

Any props or pieces of paper should be shown on camera to be blank. Please ensure that the learner brings the item close to the camera and shows both sides.

Once the performance has ended, we would encourage learners to end the tape with a statement as follows: “I [insert learner’s name] certify that my performance was only recorded once and that there are no notes or prompts in the room.”

For Group exams:

In Group video submissions, all learners must be verbally introduced prior to the performance, and they must hold up a sign with their full name as it appears on their exam entry. The name must be clearly and legibly written or printed.

Learners should loudly and clearly announce their full names as registered for the exam (no shortened names or nicknames) at the start of the tape, in the order they are listed on the timetable. 

If read-ins are required due to absentees, the learners should be introduced as ‘read-in’ and clearly identifiable throughout the performance either by labelling, clothing or use of a script. Any read-ins must be visible from head to toe throughout the performance. LAMDA is unable to accept recordings with read-in learners who are not clearly identified.

For Group Storytelling for Performance video submissions specifically, another member of the group can complete the verbal introduction on behalf of a non-verbal learner. However, each learner must hold their own sign so that it can be clearly viewed on the screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

For all our FAQs or to raise a support ticket, please visit our customer portal.

Learners are permitted to have either a live accompanist or a technician to operate a recorded backing track.

The live accompanist or technician must also be the ones to operate the self-tape recording. No further people are allowed to be present for any reason during the recording unless permitted by an authorised LAMDA Reasonable Adjustment. We recommend placing the recording device on a stand so that it does not move during the performance.

The learner(s) taking the exam can also start and end the music themselves if they wish.

The music technician should be in view of the camera but remain stationary and behind the learner so they do not interrupt the performance or distract the learner. 

Note: we highly recommend that the technician is not the parent or teacher of the learner(s) so that they are not tempted to look at them for prompts or feedback during the performance.  

The room that the tape is recorded in should reflect the same conditions that the learner(s) would take an in-person exam. Where possible, mirrors should be covered, so that learners are not looking at themselves during the performance. 

The lighting should be consistent and clear, and take care that lighting or distance from the camera allow for a clear view of the learner’s facial expression.

Please ensure that the room is free of any notes or prompts and that (where possible) the walls are free of posters.  

If it helps, teachers may wish to add tape to the floor to highlight the space the learner(s) need to remain in during their performance.

After you have submitted a self-tape, a member of the LAMDA team will check that the video meets our quality and compliance checks. If it does not (for any reasons relating to audio or visual) a scheduler will be in touch within a week to let you know that the performance must be re-recorded.  

Once you have re-recorded the tape, you will need to upload the submission to the same SharePoint link and email your scheduler (via [email protected]) to confirm you have done this. Please do this as quickly as possible so that LAMDA can check the submission meets the quality and compliance check.

If the video meets the required quality for assessment, we will not be in touch to confirm this.  

Any failure to submit or re-submit a self-tape within the time parameters given will automatically result in an absent mark. No credit notes or refunds will be provided by LAMDA if this is the case.  

If a learner is taking one of the exams below, they will have a Knowledge section during their exam and need to be present during the time provided in ExamTrack.

Exam Format
Musical Theatre Solo
Musical Theatre Duologue
PCertLAM (Only applicable in the learner has opted to include a musical theatre piece in their repertoire. The full recital must be performed in one take.)

Exam Format
Musical Theatre Solo
Musical Theatre Duologue
PCertLAM (Only applicable in the learner has opted to include a musical theatre piece in their repertoire. The full recital must be performed in one take.)

As with all ROA examinations, the LAMDA steward will invite the learner into the Zoom meeting to confirm name, subject and grade. 

The Examiner will repeat these checks, then the learner will be placed into the waiting room whilst the Examiner views and marks the self-tape. A teacher, centre co-ordinator or parent may wish to stay with the learner during this time.

Once this process has finished, the learner will be re-admitted into the Zoom meeting. 

The Examiner will confirm the titles of the performances viewed. At this point, the chaperone will be asked to leave the room, and the Examiner will do the final checks, which may include asking the learner to sit back from the device for parity with an in-person exam. 

The Knowledge section of the examination will then be conducted as per in-person and other ROA exams.